Tampopo (1986)

100% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
93% of users liked it
(7,648 ratings)

The sophomore directorial effort from ill-fated Japanese filmmaker Juzo Itami, Tampopo is an off-beat comedy featuring several intersecting stories all related to food. Tsutomu Yamazaki plays Goro, a truck driver who helps a young widow named Tampopo (Nobuko Miyamoto) improve her noodle restaurant.… More The sophomore directorial effort from ill-fated Japanese filmmaker Juzo Itami, Tampopo is an off-beat comedy featuring several intersecting stories all related to food. Tsutomu Yamazaki plays Goro, a truck driver who helps a young widow named Tampopo (Nobuko Miyamoto) improve her noodle restaurant. Over the course of the film, the story drifts around, not only following the stories of Tampopo, her son, and Goro, but also a number of customers who come through the diner, including an old woman (Izumi Hara) who insists on squeezing the cheese at a market and a criminal (Ken Watanabe) with a food-based kink. Tampopo was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the 1988 Independent Spirit Awards. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 54 min.
Directed By: Juzo Itami
Written By: Juzo Itami
Genres: Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 23, 1985 Wide
On DVD: Jul 5, 2000

Critic Reviews

Jay Antani, Cinema Writer
a pleasant enough time-passer
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Playful and self-reflexive, Itami's delightful shaggy-dog tale makes allusions to Samurai, American Westerns, Spielberg, but above all it's about the power of food, specifically the art of preparing and eating noodles.
Gary Brown, Houston Community Newspapers
A fan favorite for college foreign film series.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Letitia L

A timeless feast for the senses, saw it twice in college with friends. We ate ramen before watching it, but still left in the middle of the movie to go get more. It will taunt your appetite and wrap your salivating imagination around its chopsticks until your craving can't hold… More
A timeless feast for the senses, saw it twice in college with friends. We ate ramen before watching it, but still left in the middle of the movie to go get more. It will taunt your appetite and wrap your salivating imagination around its chopsticks until your craving can't hold out any more. Hilarious and very Asian vignettes about the cultural importance of food in a Japan that's trying to Westernize without losing its Nippon identity. (The beggar foodies especially reminded me of Chinese wuxia stories.) And a sweet, understated chivalry between Goro and Tampopo.
Justin Y

Juzo Itami creates one piece of work in Tampopo, a film that centers around ramen. This movie will make you hungry for noodles. I don't care if you are sick or you just ate. You will be hungry for noodles.When it comes down to it, this film is about… More
Juzo Itami creates one piece of work in Tampopo, a film that centers around ramen. This movie will make you hungry for noodles. I don't care if you are sick or you just ate. You will be hungry for noodles.When it comes down to it, this film is about a group of people that help turn a middle aged woman's cheap ramen shop into the best one in town. However, there is much more in this movie than just that. Why? I do not know. The beginning starts off with a man talking to the audience (you) about manners while watching a movie. The opening credits is then in black and white and finally we are under way.The story is interesting and there is sort of a childish tone to it, which keeps things fun. Speaking of fun, throughout this film there are scenes that have just no meaning in here. There are a few love scenes, an old woman in a grocery store, a man rushing home to his dying wife, etc. The ONLY thing these scenes have in common is food. The love scenes involve food as an aphrodisiac. There is nudity and all. The old woman in the grocery store is smashing food with her fingers. The man rushes home to his dying wife so she can cook her last meal. Why are these scenes there? To make the movie longer? To make the story more entertaining? No matter the reason, they are there and they will get people laughing.Nobuko Miyamoto and Tsutomu Yamazaki both carry this movie nicely and the supporting cast follow their leaders.Tampopo is one film that is hard to pass up. Also, what is up with the end credits?
Lanning :

Dandelion You cannot watch this movie and not want to eat noodles. I couldn't wait until after it was over; I had to pause it half way through this time and cook up a bowl for myself. It's the same problem I have watching a… More
Dandelion You cannot watch this movie and not want to eat noodles. I couldn't wait until after it was over; I had to pause it half way through this time and cook up a bowl for myself. It's the same problem I have watching a good cook on the Food Network. Nothing like ushering out the old and welcoming in the new year with great homemade ramen. Very fulfilling fare.
Simeon D

A two hour comedy about a widow and a trucker trying to make the perfect noodle. I'm still asking myself how this managed to be so entertaining. It's indescribable; don't try to describe it to your friends. Just say it's Monty Python meets The Good the Bad and the… More
A two hour comedy about a widow and a trucker trying to make the perfect noodle. I'm still asking myself how this managed to be so entertaining. It's indescribable; don't try to describe it to your friends. Just say it's Monty Python meets The Good the Bad and the Ugly in Japanese. Random and hilarious, and with some expected misfires, this is a funny satire on Japanese culture that's worth the watch because of some memorable movie scenes and good acting. 95/100
Jojo S

This movie will make you HUNGRY for NOODLES and all sorts of crazy food fantasies. XD The film has so many comical surprises and side stories. It will make you HUNGRY and HUNGRIER. It will make you burst out laughter while your stomach is praying this movie is over. THAT'S HOW… More
This movie will make you HUNGRY for NOODLES and all sorts of crazy food fantasies. XD The film has so many comical surprises and side stories. It will make you HUNGRY and HUNGRIER. It will make you burst out laughter while your stomach is praying this movie is over. THAT'S HOW GOOD THIS MOVIE IS! The shots were great and the actors were excellent as Ken Wakanabe performed one of his proudest. GOSH. I bet those people who watched it in the theatre couldn't wait the movie is over and RUSH to a noodle shop and EAT. The point of this movie is about what's the best food and how to eat them. The ending was profoundly deep.